Tent and tent frame



April 1, 1941. s. C. EDDY mu AND TENT FRAME Filed Jan. 11, 1940 s SheetLs-Shget 1 w 5. /J 2W 1 W f m llllp. IA @M Mal/l! J v ML g 1- J. H! Mnmj ".m/ m

April 1, 1941. s, c, ED Y 2,236,677

TENT AND TENT FRAME Filed Jan. 11, 1940 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

x; iwJL Q ATTORNEY 5 April 1, 1941. s. c. EDDY mar Ann TENT FRAME Filqd Jan. 11, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 0 INVENTOR. dCfil/y/gfl C. 302 7 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 1, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFER 2,236,677 TENT AND TENT FRAME Schuyler o. Eddy, Kalamazoo, Mich- Application January 11, 1940, Serial No. 313,313

11 Claims. 1 (01. 135-3) This invention relates to tents and tent frames. It has for its objects:

First, to produce a new and improved tent.

Second, to produce such a tent suitable for accommodation of a number of men such as a small military unit.

Third, to provide such a tent in which the bunks form an integral part of the supporting framework.

Fourth, to provide such a. tent having a, framework which is extremely rigid and which may be assembled or disassembled easily and quickly.

Fifith, to provide such a tent having a f-name the unit parts of which may be easily handled for transportation. I

Sixth, to provide such a tent having a frame in which a plurality of identical units are used whereby the cost of manuta'cture may be kept low and the speed and ease of assembly and disassembly is increased.

Further objects, relating to details of construction and operation, will be apparent from the detailed description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tent embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the framework of a tent embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of framework for a tent embodying the mvention.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view showing one of the outer supporting members of the framework of the tent.

Fig. 4A is a detail view showing the manner of holding the cable at the top of one of the outer supporting units forming the framework of the tent. v

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a portion of the framework of the tent at th doorway thereto.

A Fig. 6 is a perspective view in detail showing the elements of the framework assembled. I

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the inner supporting members of the tent.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the outer supporting members of the tent.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view taken on line 9--9 of Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a detail view partly in sectionof the connection between the bunk frames and the vertical supports. I v

Fig. M is a detail view partly in section. showmg the connection illustrated in Fig. 10, from a different angle.

Fig. 12 a view showing how the outer supporting sections may be nestedtor transportation.

Fig. 13 is .a detail sectional View taken on line l3l 3 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view taken on line l t-+14 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 15 is a detail view partly in section showing a portion of the threshold construction, taken on line I'd-t6 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view of the threshold construction shown in Fig. 15, taken on line l6l 6 of Figs. 2 and 15.

Fig, 17 is a detail sectional view taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 1 showing the manner of attachmerit of the canvas top of the tent and the side walls thereof to the frame.

Fig. 18 is a detail view showing the manner of fastening the bottom of the side walls of the tent in position.

Fig. 19 is a view showing a modified form of an inner supporting member of the tent frame.

The tent l consists of a framework generally indicated at 2, the canvas top portion 3, side walls 4, and :a central supporting pole 5. The framework consists of a plurality of substantially rectangular supporting frames '6 which are disposed fiat-wise at the periphery of the tent. These frames consist of steel angle members I and 8 which, when the member 6 is in position, fiac-e inwardly and away from the support. They are connected by cross members 9 which are welded as shown at II], to the steel angle bars 7 and 8.

There are two tiers of substantially rectangular bunk frames I I which are formed of steel channel strips I2, to which bed springs l3 are fastened. The steel channel strips are disposedto form a downwardly-disposed flange M at the periphery of the bunk frames. The frames extend inwardly to vertical column supports which are disposed at the innermost projecting cornersof the frame. These column supports i=5 are formed of a pair of steel angle strips I6 welded together, as shown at I1, and disposed so that the angle strips face outwardly of the tent and away from the column;

v The frames II have their outer edges extendin between and connecting to rectangular supporting frames 6 and have their inner edges connecting .to column supports I5, so that the bunk frames are supported by the supports 6 and 1:5 and connect and brace each of the supports to the next adjacent support. The outer edges of the bunk frames H and the supporting members 6 form a substantially continuous structural member which is longer than the substantially continuous structural compression member formed by the inner edges of the bunk frames II and the supporting column members I5.

The frames II are connected .to the supports 6 and I5 by similar connecting means which may be easily engaged and disengaged. The corners of the frames fit into angles I and 8 of the memher 6 and into channels I6 of the members l5. From the metal of the channels are struck out upwardly-projecting ears or lugs I8 which are spaced from the walls of their channels. The downwardly projecting flanges I4 of the frames II fit between the walls of the channels and the ears I8. In order to position the corners of the frames in the angle of the channels I make one edge I9 of the lugs I8 so that it slants at an angle downwardly toward the corner of the angle member so that the edge I9 will wedge the flange I4 over against the wall of the channel member which does not carry the ear I8, as shown in Fig. 11.

The upper ends of the rectangular supports 6 extend above the upper tier of bunk frames II, where I provide cable engaging eyes or hooks 20. At the lower ends of the member 6 I provide notches 2| to similarly engage a cable.

Between the ends of a pair of bunks I provide a doorway, shown at 22. At the inner corners of the bunks on opposite sides of the doorway I provide column supports 23 which support the inner corners of the bunk frames II and extend thereabout, as shown in Fig. 3. At the outer corners of the bunks I provide similar column supports 24 which also extend above the top tier of bunks and are provided with eyes or hooks 25 similar to the eyes or hooks 20. The upper ends of the column supports 23 are connected by a rigid rod 26 which has down turned ends 27 fitting in apertures 2II at the tops of the column supports 23. I provide a rigid threshold member 28 extending between the lower ends of the column supports 23 fitting in notches 29 at the bottom of the support. The inner edges of the bunk frames II, the column supports I5 and 23, and the members 26 and 28 thus form a continuous structural compression member.

Extending around the frame 2 I provide flexible cables 30 and 3|. These flexible cables are under tension and are provided with suitable tensioning catches 32, best seen in Fig. 6, which tighten the cables to hold them under tension to impart the desired structural characteristic to the frame. The cable 30 passes through the eyes or hooks 20 and 25. The cable 3| passes through the notches 2|, so that the cables will be held in their engagement with the supporting members 6 to tie the frame together.

The central canvas top 3 of the tent is conical in form. It is apertured at.33 to provide for movement up and down the central pole 5. A rope 34 passing through a block 35 raises and lowers the center of the top. The periphery of the top is provided with snap fasteners 36 which snap on the cable 30. The edges of the top areprovided with inner flaps 31 spaced from the edge of the top 3. Between the edge of the top 3 and the flaps 37 I provide rings 38 into which hooks 39 on the side walls 4 may be engaged. At the bottom of the side walls I provide ties 40 to be tied around the cable 3| to hold the bottom of the side walls in position.

In Fig. 19 I show a modified form of the inner column supports II5, similar to the support I5 except that I provide a single angle piece II 6 to which the bunk frames II are fastened by means of upwardly extending ears H8 similar to the ears I8 on the column supports I5. The bunk frames II engage at the points III in this form of construction, being wedged to position by the slanting face H9 on the ears H8.

The tent provided with my frame is extremely rigid. The frame may be assembled 0r disassembled with facility. Many of the parts are duplicates which may be easily stowed for transportation. The outer frame members 6 of rec- .tangular form resist any tendency to sway and may be nested for transportation, as shown in Fig. 12. The tent may be made of light weight material because of its structural characteristics and because of these may also be set up on uneven ground without danger of collapse.

The terms'and expressions which have been herein employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation. There is no intention in the use of these terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of features shown and described or portions thereof. It is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a tent, the combination of a plurality of rectangular supporting frames disposed flatwise at the periphery of the tent, a plurality of substantially rectangular frames disposed horizontally and in two tiers peripherally around the tent with their outer edges extending between and joining said rectangular frame supports to form therewith a substantially continuous enclosing structural member, said frames extending inwardly from the periphery of the tent and having a plurality of vertical column supports disposed at the innermost projecting corners of the frame and joined to and connecting said innermost corners of adjacent frames to form with the inner edges of said frames a substantially continuous structural compression member, the innermost corners of two adjacent frames being spaced apart from one another to form a doorway, a pair of vertical column supports each disposed at and supporting the innermost corners of said spaced frames at said doorway and extending vertically above the top tier of frames, and a rigid member connecting the upper ends of said column supports across said doorway and a second rigid member connecting the bottoms of said column supports across said doorway. whereby a continuous structural compression member is formed with the aforesaid column supports and the inner edges of said horizontally disposed frames, and a pair of column sup ports each supporting the outer spaced apart corners of said frames at said doorway, and a pair of continuous cables under tension extending around said tent one engaging the upper portions of said rectangular supporting frames and said last mentioned column supports and the other engaging the bottom of said rectangular frame supports and said last mentioned column supports.

2. In a tent, the combination of a plurality of rectangular supporting frames disposed flatwise at the periphery of the tent, a plurality of substantiallyrectangular frames disposed horizontally and peripherally around the tent with their outer edges extendin between and joining, said rectangular frame supports to form therewith a substantially continuous enclosing structural member, said frames extending inwardly from the periphery of the tent and having a plurality of vertical column supports disposed at the innermost projecting corners of the frame and joined to and connecting said innermost corners of adjacent frames to form with the inner edges of said frames a substantially continuous structural compression member, the innermost corners of two adjacent frames being spaced apart a from one another to form a doorway, a pair of vertical column supports each disposed at and supporting the innermost corners of said spaced frames at said doorway and extending vertically above the frames, and a rigid member connecting the upper ends of said column supports across said doorway, and a second rigid member connecting the bottoms of said column supports across said doorway, whereby a continuous structural compression member is formed with the aforesaid column supports and the inner edges of said horizontally disposed frames, and a pair of column supports each supporting the outer spaced apart corners of said frames at said doorway, and a pair of continuous cables under tension extending around said tent one engaging the upper portions of said rectangular supporting frames and said last mentioned column supports and the other engaging the bottom of said rectangular frame supports and said last mentioned column supports.

3. In a tent, the combination of a plurality of rectangular supporting frames disposed fiatwise at the periphery of the tent, a plurality of sub stantially rectangular frames disposed horizontally and in two tiers peripherally around the tent with their outer edges extending between and joining said rectangular frame supports to form therewith a substantially continuous enclosing structural member, said frames extending inwardly from the periphery of the tent and having a plurality of vertical column supports disposed at the innermost projecting corners of the frame and joined to and connecting said innermost corners of adjacent frames to form with the inner edges of said frames a substantially continuous structural compression member, the innermost corners of two adjacent frames being spaced apart from one another to form a doorway, a pair of vertical column supports each disposed at and supporting the innermost corners of said spaced frames at said doorway and extending vertically above the top tier of frames, and a rigid member connecting the upper ends of said column supports across said doorway, whereby a continuous structural compression member is formed with the aforesaid column supports and the inner edges of said horizontally disposed frames, and a pair of column supports each supporting the outer spaced apart corners of said frames at said doorway, and a continuous cable under tension extending around said tent and engaging the tops of said rectangular frame supports and said last mentioned column supports.

4. In a tent, the combination of a plurality of rectangular supporting frames disposed flatwise at the periphery of the tent, a plurality of substantially rectangular frames disposed horizontally and peripherally around the tent with their outer edges extending between and joining said rectangular frame supports to form therewith a substantially continuous enclosing structural member, said frames extending inwardly fromthe periphery of the tent and having a plurality of vertical column supports disposed at the innermost projecting corners, of. the frame and joined to. and connecting said innermost corners of adjacentframes-t'o' form with the inner edges of said frames a substantially continuous struc tural compression member, the innermost corners of two adjacentframes being spaced apart from one another to form a doorway, a pair of vertical column supports each disposed at and supporting the innermost corners of' said. spaced frames at said doorway and extending vertically above .thefra'mes, and a rigid member connecting the upper ends of said column supports across said doorway, whereby a continuous structural compression member is formed with the aforesaid columnsupports and the inner edges of said horizontally disposed frames, and a pair of column supports each supporting the outer.

spaced apart corners of said frames at said doorway, and a continuous cable under tension extending around said tent and engaging the tops of said rectangular frame supports and said last mentioned column supports.

5. In a tent, the combination of a plurality of rectangular supporting frames disposed fiat- Wise at the periphery of the tent, a plurality of substantially rectangular frames disposed horizontally and in two tiers peripherally around the tent with their outer edges extending between and joining said rectangular frame supports to-form therewith a substantially continuous enclosing structural member, said frame extending inwardly from the periphery of the tent and. having a plurality of vertical column supports. disposed at the innermost projecting corners of the frames and joined to and connecting said innermost corners of' adjacent frames to form with the inner edges of said frames a substantially continuous structural compression member, whereby said frames are joined to and brace substantially all of said rectangular supports and said column supports each to the next adjacent support, and continuous cable means under tension extending around said. tent and engaging said rectangular supporting frames.

6. In a tent, the combination of a plurality of rectangular supporting frames disposed flatwise at the periphery of the tent, a plurality of substantially rectangular frames disposed horizontally in. two tiers and peripherally around the tent with their outer edges extending between and joining s'aid rectangular frame supports to form therewith a substantially continuous enclosing structural member, said frame extending inwardly from the periphery of the tent and having a plurality of vertical column supports disposed at the innermost projecting corners of the frames and joined to and connecting said innermost corners of adjacent frames to form with the inner edges of said frames a substantially continuous structural compression member, whereby said frames are joined to and brace substantially all of said rectangular supports and said column supports each to the next adjacent support, said rectangular supporting frames extending above the top tier of horizontally disposed frames, a cable under tension extending around said tent and engaging the upper portion of said rectangular supporting frames, and a second continuous cable under tension extending around said tent and engaging the lower por-- tions of said rectangular supporting frames.

'7. In a tent, the combination of a plurality of rectangular supporting frames disposed flatwise atthe periphery of the tent, a plurality of substantially rectangular frames disposed horizontally and peripherally around the tent with their outer edges extending between and joining said rectangular frame supports to form therewith a substantially continuous enclosing structural member, said frame extending inwardly from the periphery of the tent and having a plurality of vertical column supports disposed at the innermost projecting corners of the frames and joined to and connecting said innermost corners of adjacent frames to form with the inner edges of said frames a substantially continuous structural compression member, whereby said frames are joined to and brace substantially all of said rectangular supports and said column supports each to the next adjacent support, and continuous cable means under tension extending around said tent and engaging said rectangular supporting frames.

8. In a tent, the combination of a plurality of rectangular supporting frames disposed fiatwise at the periphery of the tent, a plurality of substantially rectangular frames disposed horizontally and peripherally around the tent with their outer edges extending between and joining said rectangular frame supports to form therewith a substantially continuous enclosing structural member, said frame extending inwardly from the periphery of the tent and having a plurality of vertical column supports disposed at the innermost projecting corners of the frames and joined to and connecting said innermost corners of adjacent frames to form with the inner edges of said frames a substantially continuous structural compression member, whereby said frames are joined to and brace substantially all of said rectangular supports and said column supports each to the next adjacent support, said rectangular supporting frames extending above the horizontally disposed frames and having eyes formed therein, a cable under tension extending around said tent and engaging the eyes in said rectangular supporting frames, and a second continuous cable under tension extending around said tent and engaging the lower portions of said rectangular supporting frames.

9. In a tent, the combination of a plurality of rectangular supporting frames disposed fiatwise at the periphery of the tent, a plurality of substantially rectangular frames disposed horizontally and peripherally around the tent with their outer edges extending between and joining said rectangular frame supports to form therewith a substantially continuous enclosing structural member, said frame extending inwardly from the periphery of the tent and having a plurality of vertical column supports disposed at the innermost projecting corners of the frames and joined to and connecting said innermost corners of adjacent frames to form with the inner edges of said frames a substantially continuous structural compression member, whereby said frames are joined to and brace substantially all of said rectangular supports and said column supports each to the next adjacent support, said rectangular supporting frames extending above the horizontally disposed frames, a cable under tension extending around said tent and engaging the upper portion of said rectangular supporting frames, and a second continuous cable under tension extending around said tent and engaging the lower portions of said rectangular supporting frames.

10. In a tent, the combination of a plurality of rectangular supporting frames disposed flatwise at the periphery of the tent and having on their vertical sides channel members facing inwardly of said tent and away from said frames, ears extending upwardly within said channels and spaced from said channels, a plurality of vertical column supports spaced inwardly from and substantially centrally of said rectangular supporting frames each column support having a channel facing outwardly of said tent and away from said column supports, ears extending upwardly from within said channels and spaced from the walls thereof, a plurality of substantially rectangular frames disposed horizontally and peripherally around the tent with their outer edges extending between said rectangular frame supports and their inner edges extending between said column supports, the corners of said frames fitting in said channel members and having downwardly directed flanges fitting behind said ears, whereby said horizontally disposed frames are supported by said supporting frames and said column supports and connect said supporting frames and column supports, and continuous cable means under tension extending around said tent and engaging said rectangular supporting frames.

11. In a tent, the combination of a plurality of rectangular supporting frames disposed fiatwise at the periphery of the tent and having on their vertical sides channel members facing inwardly of said tent and away from said frames, ears extending upwardly within said channels and spaced from said channels, a plurality of vertical column supports spaced inwardly from and substantially centrally of said rectangular supporting frames each column support having a channel facing outwardly of said tent and away from said column supports, ears extending upwardly from within said channels and spaced from the Walls thereof, a plurality of substantially rectangular frames disposed horizontally and peripherally around the tent with their outer edges extending between said rectangular frame supports and their inner edges extending between said column supports, the corners of said frames fitting in said channel members and having downwardly directed flanges fitting behind said ears, whereby said horizontally disposed frames are supported by said supporting frame and column supports and connect said supporting frames and column supports.

SCHUYLER C. EDDY. 

